Our Commitment to Sustainability

At Unisource Canada we aim to be the environmental partner of choice for clients across Canada. As the sustainability challenge becomes increasingly urgent and as business increasingly responds with green initiatives, Unisource stands ready to deliver products and expertise that can make a positive and substantial contribution.  

This is our pledge:

PRODUCT SELECTIONS: We will use best efforts to identify and offer our customers green product alternatives in every category where a third party endorsement, certification or documented set of environmentally preferred practices exists.

For paper products, this means we will use best efforts to offer a selection of certified papers and maintain our system wide Chain of Custody certifications.

For packaging materials, this means that we will use best efforts to offer products which adhere to the basic tenets of the 3R’s: Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle

For facility supplies we will use best efforts to offer a selection of products such as cleaning and restroom solutions that provide our customers with options to reduce their overall environmental impact.

SOURCING: We will use best efforts to ensure that procurement of products takes place from legal sources that are contractually obligated to operate in compliance with all applicable environmental laws and regulations.

SUPPLY CHAIN: One of our primary carbon footprint contributors is derived from the combustion of diesel fuel. In 2008 we implemented a GPS based fleet monitoring system. We will use this system to gain the highest efficiencies, and to reduce the environmental impact of our fleet operations. We will also investigate new fuel alternatives in an effort to further reduce our carbon footprint.

WAREHOUSE AND OFFICE OPERATIONS: We have begun the process of standardizing our practices around lighting, heating and air conditioning with the goal of reducing our consumption in mind. We will also evaluate whenever possible the feasibility of sourcing electricity from sustainable resources.

We believe that every employee is entitled to work in an environmentally responsible facility. We will require 100% compliance with our locations to ensure that they use green cleaning products. All locations will use certified office paper, and encourage efficient printing practices.

We also commit to minimizing the solid waste that we produce and recycling whenever possible. Finally we commit to minimizing our water usage through the implementation of technology to control the use of water on our properties.

COMMUNITY: Going forward we will be consolidating our philanthropic activities on a national basis in two critical areas where we are positioned to make a difference in terms of corporate giving as well as the volunteer contributions of our employees. The areas of concentration will include national support for our communities through organizations as the United Way, local food banks and education.